It’s all about the atmosphere at the sanctified El San Juan Resort & Casino. A combination of the glory days of the 1950s and modern luxury and amenities, this hotel has it all: a casino of its own class, a sexy and modern club, a beautiful pool, beach access, a gallery of shops and many room amenities. Its new multi-million dollar renovations turn the hotel into a five-star hotel.
This is the most popular casino on the island, it has the most popular nightclub on the island, it has been recently renovated and has renovated rooms, it has a new and lively restaurant with a very cool rum bar and it is right on the beach in Green Island.
However, it is one of the most expensive options in San Juan. This is not the place to be if you are looking for Puerto Rican food. Lastly, there is little to do or see around the hotel.
The lobby area at night is a good place for people watching, so keep an eye out for celebrity sightings. The shopping arcade has cheesy decor (note the fake trees), but it’s one of the most comprehensive of any hotel in Puerto Rico. Access to the beach is further enhanced by the nearby location of San Juan Waterfun, where you can rent all kinds of jet skis. Be on the lookout for special offers and packages. You can find great deals at this hotel, especially in summer.
El San Juan Resort and Casino Review
A luxury resort since the days of the Rat Pack in the 1950s, The San Juan Resort & Casino is an opulent throwback that honors tradition while updating the basics. The result is one of the most popular and appreciated hotels in Puerto Rico.
This is the type of hotel where you walk into the elegant lobby and find yourself instantly in the splendor of the tropics. The bustling, bustling lobby bar never seems to stop, and the screams and screams of the casino will tempt you before you get your room key.
As for the rooms, they got a big upgrade in 2007, transforming from the hackneyed tropical hues of the past to a modern, minimal look with iPods and flat-screen TVs ready. Once you’re ready to eat, you have a plethora of (mostly international) dining options. Leading the way, in our opinion, is Italian La Piccola Fontana , but there’s also a Palm branch, the famous steakhouse, and a Latin-newcomer named Koco.
During the day, if the casino doesn’t catch you, the free-form pool, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, could, and Isla Verde’s beach probably will. In the evening, you may want to relax in the lobby bar, watch the live band warming up the crowd at night, and enjoy the timeless feel of the place. The San Juan also has La Galería (“The Gallery”), a shopping center made up of 12 stores that include high-end jewelry, fine chocolates and curios. Lest we forget, there is also the Edouard de Paris Day Spa, located on the 10th floor, to pamper you.
And then there is the night. San Juan has one of the best clubs in Puerto Rico at Club Brava. It has that rocking lobby bar, and it has the casino. And just to spice things up, there’s the new Rum Bar in Koco.
Combine it all, and you have a timeless and tried-and-true bastion of resort-style island life.
